AI, CVs and applications: Your questions answered

In a recent Prospects webinar, we explored how AI fits into CV writing, job applications, and hiring processes. We received far more questions than we could answer live, so we've brought them together here - along with clear, practical guidance to help you use AI confidently without damaging your chances

Graduate and early career applications

Do you have any advice for graduates applying to graduate schemes?

Graduate schemes are highly structured and competitive, so preparation matters. To improve your chances:

• start early, as many schemes recruit on a rolling basis
• practise online tests and interview formats in advance
• tailor every application and explain why you chose this scheme, not just the company
• use university work, part‑time jobs, or extra-curricular activities to evidence skills such as teamwork and problem solving
• focus on collaboration rather than dominance at assessment centres
• treat rejection as feedback and refine your approach at each stage.

Do you have any advice for writing a CV for graduate schemes if I don't have much experience?

If you lack formal work experience, focus on potential and transferable skills. Structure your CV clearly, highlighting:

• assignments
• extra-curricular activities
• education
• projects.

Coursework, group projects, or dissertations can demonstrate skills such as:

• analysis
• communication
• initiative
• leadership.

Use bullet points with outcomes where possible, keep it concise (ideally one page), and tailor it to each role. Avoid generic claims, as specific examples matter more than job titles. If relevant experience is limited, a skills-based CV can be a strong alternative.

If an employer is open to AI use, does this apply to all vacancies or just early‑careers roles?

Attitudes to AI vary by organisation and role rather than career stage. Some employers actively encourage responsible AI use across all levels, while others set stricter boundaries. Always follow the employer’s guidance and be transparent if asked. AI is generally seen as a productivity tool but accountability, judgement, and independent thinking remain essential for every role.

CV writing and structure

Is a summary at the top of a CV necessary?

A summary isn’t essential, but it can be effective if written well. A strong summary briefly highlights your key strengths, relevant experience, and career direction. It should be concise, tailored, and clearly aligned to the role - never vague or generic. If it doesn’t add value, leave it out. Discover how to write a personal statement for your CV. 

How much detail is too much on a CV?

Too much detail is anything that distracts from your strongest, most relevant evidence. Avoid long paragraphs and focus on concise, achievement‑based bullet points. Irrelevant modules, outdated school information, or excessive descriptions dilute impact. Prioritise recent and relevant experience, quantify results where possible, and edit ruthlessly for clarity. Read about what to include in your CV.

Are there jobs you shouldn't include on a CV?

Very few. Most roles demonstrate valuable transferable skills such as:

• communication
• reliability
• teamwork
• time management.

Discover what skills employers want. What matters is how you present them. As you gain more relevant experience, these roles can be shortened or removed. CVs show progression and relevance, not prestige.

Any rules on including 'unrelated interests' on a CV?

Unrelated interests are optional but can add value if chosen carefully. Interests that show commitment, creativity, or leadership can humanise your application and spark conversation. Avoid vague or passive interests such as ‘watching TV’. Be specific, keep the section brief, and prioritise core content if space is limited.

What skills and experiences should go in a cover letter versus a CV?

Your CV shows evidence while your cover letter explains the meaning. The CV outlines skills, experience, and achievements. The cover letter links those experiences to the role and organisation, explaining motivation, fit, and potential contribution. Avoid just repeating the CV. Think of the CV as what you’ve done and the cover letter as why it matters.

Take a look at our example CVs and example cover letters.

Tailoring applications and standing out

What’s the most effective way to tailor a CV?

Start with the job description and work backwards. Identify what the employer values most, then reflect this in your CV using relevant language and examples. Reorder bullet points so the most important achievements appear first and quantify impact where possible. Tailoring means emphasising relevance, not rewriting from scratch.

How do you stand out when employers receive high volumes of applications? 

Focus on impact, not just responsibility. Show outcomes - what changed because of your work. Use evidence, numbers, or brief examples to demonstrate problem solving. Reference something specific about the organisation to show genuine interest. Clear writing, confidence, and careful proofreading all help applications stand out.

How do you approach a job you really want without sounding desperate?

Lead with confidence and curiosity. Explain why the role and organisation appeal to you, linking this clearly to your skills and experience. Avoid emotional language or urgency. Instead, focus on contribution and fit. A calm, professional tone signals self‑assurance - even when the role matters a great deal to you.

How do you balance quantity versus quality when applying for multiple roles?

Quality should lead, but smart systems enable scale. Identify roles that genuinely fit your skills. Develop a strong core CV and cover letter, then tailor key sections for each role. Track applications to avoid repetition and missed follow‑ups. Fewer, stronger applications typically outperform mass applications.

Is there merit in applying in more unusual ways?

Sometimes but only when appropriate. Creative approaches such as personal websites, portfolios, or thoughtful follow‑ups can work in certain sectors. Being unconventional purely to stand out can backfire. Employers prioritise clarity, professionalism, and relevance over gimmicks. Creativity should add value, not distract. Read all about creative CVs and video CVs.

AI use in CVs, cover letters and applications

What AI tools are useful for job searching and applications?

AI works best as a support tool, not a replacement. Tools like ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot can help structure CVs, refine bullet points, tailor applications, and practise interview responses. The key is to personalise everything - your voice, experience, and judgement must remain central.

Why remove personal information before using AI?

Many AI tools process data externally and may store prompts. Sharing names, addresses, or sensitive employer information can create privacy risks, including under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). AI doesn’t need identifying details to improve clarity or structure, so anonymising your content is a simple way to use AI responsibly.

Is there an acceptable level of AI use?

There’s no formal threshold, but a helpful rule is that AI should enhance clarity, rather than replace thinking. Editing, grammar, and structure are fine. Inventing experiences or motivations is not. Employers care about authenticity even if the wording has been refined.

Is AI a misrepresentation for writing‑heavy roles?

Not automatically but over‑reliance is risky. Employers in communications and content roles expect judgement, originality, and voice. Use AI as an editor, not an author. Writing first, then refining, ensures your application reflects your real ability.

What should AI refine and what should you focus on?

AI is best at structure, clarity, grammar, tone, and alignment with the criteria. You should refine the substance: what you include, how you demonstrate impact, your motivation, and your narrative. Only you can make those decisions. Discover how to use AI in your applications.

Applicant tracking systems (ATS) and automated screening

Do employers use AI to screen CVs?

Yes. Most medium and large-sized employers use ATS to sort, rank, and filter CVs. Increasingly, AI supports these systems, but humans still make decisions. Smaller organisations often review manually, while high‑volume recruiters rely more on automation.

Is ATS becoming irrelevant due to AI?

No, ATS is evolving. AI enhances ATS rather than replacing it, improving CV filtering, skills matching, and ranking. ATS remains essential for compliance and tracking, with AI acting as a decision‑support layer.

How do employers filter applications?

Screening usually occurs in stages:

• basic eligibility checks (location, right to work, qualifications)
• automated ranking by relevance
• human shortlisting based on clarity, impact, and evidence.

Senior or specialist roles involve earlier human review.

How can candidates optimise for ATS without sounding robotic?

Use clear headings, simple formatting, and standard job titles. Embed key skills naturally within achievement‑based bullet points. Avoid keyword stuffing or copying job descriptions. Write for humans first; well‑written CVs usually perform well with ATS too.

Who decides the keywords used in AI‑based CV filtering systems?

Keywords come primarily from the job description, shaped by hiring managers and recruiters. Some systems also draw on skills frameworks or historical data but priorities are set by people, not machines.

Job searching and career strategy

Are there AI tools that can find all relevant jobs at once?

No single tool captures everything. The best approach combines AI‑driven job matching with targeted searches and networking, particularly for roles that aren’t widely advertised. Search graduate jobs.

How should mature graduates or career changers approach applications?

Position your experience as an asset. Focus on transferable skills and clearly link them to the role. Avoid over‑explaining the change and present it as a deliberate, informed decision. Tailor your CV for relevance, not chronology, and use a strong profile to frame your story. Read all about changing careers.

Could experience that seems ‘too senior’ be a disadvantage?

Sometimes. Employers may worry about expectations or fit. Be explicit about why the role appeals and rebalance your CV towards hands‑on skills and current capability. Clear intent helps employers see experience as value, not risk.

What do employers value most: degree, experience, or skills?

All three matter, but experience and skills usually carry the greatest weight. Degrees often act as filters; evidence of impact determines fit. Ethical AI can help by mapping experience to requirements, clarifying skills, and improving structure without exaggeration or invention. Authenticity matters most.

Inclusivity, accessibility and support needs

As a non‑native English speaker, how can AI be used responsibly?

Use AI as a language support tool for grammar, clarity, and tone rather than content creation. As long as ideas and examples are your own, this is a fair and responsible use of AI.

Do you have any advice for neurodiverse students who find AI helpful?

AI can support structure, organisation, and reduce cognitive load. Use it collaboratively: you provide ideas, AI helps organise and refine. Ownership of content and decisions should remain with you. Read about neurodiversity in the workplace.

How can remote students stand out without in‑person networking?

Be visible online. Discover how to use social media to find a job. Maintain a strong LinkedIn profile, engage with industry content, attend virtual events, and follow up thoughtfully. Applications should highlight self‑management, initiative, and digital collaboration.

Could tools like Grammarly be unfairly flagged?

Generally, no. Tools that support spelling, grammar, and clarity are widely accepted as accessibility aids. Issues arise only when tools generate content rather than refine it. If asked, it’s reasonable to explain that you use assistive technology while all ideas and experiences are your own.

Find out more

• Get prepared with our interview tips.
• Discover how to apply for jobs.